Gyroscope Therapeutics, an ophthalmology company developing genetically defined therapies for retinal diseases such as age related macular degeneration (AMD), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Soraya Bekkali as CEO and Director of its Board.
Bekkali brings more than 20 years' industry experience with a specific focus in the fields of gene therapy and ophthalmology and will also serve as Chief Medical Officer.
Prior to joining Gyroscope, Bekkali served as Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer of Lysogene, a clinical-stage biotech company developing gene therapy products for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, where she contributed to the successful listing of the company on the Euronext Paris stock exchange in February 2017.
Bekkali’s previous leadership positions include Global Head of the Ophthalmology Business Unit at Sanofi, where she led Sanofi's ophthalmology strategy towards ocular gene therapy and set up a multidisciplinary team including R&D, market access and business development.
She led the in-licensing of two gene therapies for retinal diseases and provided strategic leadership for many of the external academic partnerships, such as MIT, Institut de la Vision, Max Planck Institute and the Foundation for Fighting Blindness.
Her 10-year tenure at Sanofi also included the position of Development Head for a gene therapy Phase III programme in advanced peripheral artery disease and Chief Medical Officer of Fovea Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage ophthalmology biotech, acquired by Sanofi in 2009.
Bekkali graduated as a doctor from the Paris Medical School in France and began her career as a clinical pharmacologist in academia before joining the pharmaceutical industry, initially with Orphan Europe, a company dedicated to development and commercialisation of orphan drugs.
Bekkali said: "I am excited to be joining Gyroscope at the Company's founding stage to advance new genetically defined therapies for the treatment of debilitating eye diseases such as age related macular degeneration (AMD).
“Gyroscope has a unique translational approach to tackling complex diseases such as dry AMD for which there are no therapies today. With the ongoing support from our investor Syncona, I look forward to establishing the Company as a leader in the field."
Chris Hollowood, Chairman of the Board and Chief Investment Officer of Syncona, said: "We founded Gyroscope because the recent convergence of the biological and genetic understanding of the complement system and its relevance in retinal diseases such as dry AMD presented a potential therapeutic solution ideally suited to gene therapy, where Syncona has considerable expertise.
"The Company is the latest example of Syncona's investment in 'Third Wave' technologies, which have unique capabilities that can address debilitating and previously intractable diseases.
"Gyroscope has assembled a team of scientific founders and experts who are at the forefront of their respective fields in gene therapy, the complement system and ophthalmology. We are extremely pleased to appoint Soraya and look forward to her leadership and extensive gene therapy and ophthalmology clinical experience driving the Company forward."
